You work in the Human Resources department of your organization. You have been charged with recruiting a manager for a department within the Services division. The Vice-President of the Services division stresses to you that "This department hasn’t had a good manager in years. I need someone who can take charge, organize things, and get people motivated and working again."
Based on her comments/expectations and your knowledge of management functions, behaviors and skills, draft the following:
A list of five to ten questions that you will use during the interview process that go beyond the information you can gain from the candidate's application or resume. These should give you insight into why the candidate can fulfill the requirements outlined by the HR manager.
A description of the types of characteristics and experience that you will look for in the candidate. Be specific, include the various management functions and roles that this individual must have experience with as well as the skills they must possess to be effective.
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. The following site has articles on management skills and be sure you catch the one with "interview questions:"
http://management.about.com/od/managementskills/Management_Skills.htm
To draft a list of interview questions and a description of the characteristics and experience you should look for in a candidate for the manager position, you should consider the expectations provided by the Vice-President of the Services division and the various management functions and skills required for the role. Here are some suggestions:
1. Can you describe a situation in which you successfully took charge and organized a team or department to achieve a specific goal or objective?
This question aims to gauge the candidate's ability to take charge and demonstrate strong organizational skills.
2. How have you motivated and inspired teams in the past to achieve high performance and productivity levels?
This question helps assess the candidate's ability to motivate and energize employees, which is crucial for getting people working again.
3. Have you ever faced resistance from your team when implementing changes or new processes? How did you handle it?
This question provides insights into the candidate's change management skills and their ability to overcome resistance while leading a team.
4. Describe your experience in conducting performance evaluations and providing feedback to employees.
This question explores the candidate's experience in one of the management functions - performance management - which is essential for ensuring employees are motivated and working effectively.
5. Can you provide an example of a project or situation in which you demonstrated strong decision-making skills under pressure?
This question evaluates the candidate's critical thinking and decision-making abilities, which are vital for a manager to handle stressful situations effectively.
6. What strategies have you employed to foster team collaboration and a positive work environment?
This question helps determine the candidate's ability to create a cohesive and collaborative team, which is crucial for improving team dynamics.
7. Can you describe a time when you had to resolve conflicts within your team? How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
This question assesses the candidate's conflict resolution skills, which are essential for maintaining harmony and productivity within a team.
8. Explain your approach to delegation and how you assign responsibilities to team members.
This question provides insights into the candidate's delegation skills and ability to empower employees to take ownership of their tasks.
In terms of characteristics and experience, look for candidates who have the following:
- Strong leadership skills: The candidate should have experience leading and inspiring teams to achieve goals.
- Organizational skills: Look for candidates who have a track record of effectively managing resources and tasks to meet objectives.
- Motivational skills: The candidate should demonstrate the ability to motivate and engage employees to improve performance.
- Change management experience: This individual should have experience implementing and managing change effectively.
- Decision-making abilities: Look for candidates who can make informed decisions under pressure and think critically.
- Communication skills: The candidate must possess excellent communication skills to effectively interact with team members and other stakeholders.
- Conflict resolution skills: Look for candidates who can address conflicts and find solutions that promote collaboration and a positive work environment.
- Delegation skills: The candidate should have the ability to delegate responsibilities and empower team members to excel in their roles.
It's important to remember that these suggestions are just a starting point, and you can adapt and modify them based on the specific needs and requirements of your organization and the role you are hiring for.